Benton County’s $1.3 million public safety wish list

Benton County is mulling a $1.3 million package of investments to improve public safety.

The county’s voters approved an 0.3 percent sales tax increase in 2014 to beef up law enforcement in the county, as well as in the cities of Kennewick, Richland, West Richland and Prosser.

Benton County has been making inroads such as hiring deputies, buying vehicles, and launching adult and juvenile drug court programs.

In the next phase, the county wants to beef up prosecution and defense services, the district court clerk’s office, add detectives, expand the drug court and mental health court, and launch new programs.

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